Hearing Loss: Cause, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatments

The ears, just like any other part of the body, age as a person gets older. So, gradual hearing loss as one ages is quite normal. However, environmental factors, such as overexposure to loud noises, can also affect a person’s hearing health. An evaluation from a hearing clinic in Ada, OK can help determine the extent of your hearing loss and if you will need a hearing aid.

Causes

Old age is the usual cause of hearing loss. However, it can also affect younger people due to many different reasons. Here are just some of the most common causes of hearing loss.

Presbycusis

Genetics

Birth defects

Overexposure to excessively loud noises

Infections

Ototoxic drugs

Traumatic brain injury (TBI)

Acoustic neuroma

Autoimmune inner ear disease

Ménière’s disease

Otosclerosis

Symptoms

Hearing loss is often gradual, so you may not notice it at first. But as time passes by, you will start noticing some changes with your hearing, such as the following.

Speech and other sounds sound muffled to you

Difficulty hearing consonants

Trouble understanding words, especially in a crowd of people or against background noise.

Avoiding conversations and social gatherings

Turning up the volume of the radio or television.

If you experience any of the symptoms mentioned above, do not hesitate to go to the nearest hearing clinic in Ada, OK for a hearing evaluation.

Hearing Tests

Several tests can be done to diagnose hearing loss.

Physical exam

General screening tests

Tuning fork test

Audiometer tests

Treatment

There are several treatments available depending on the severity of your hearing condition.

Excess earwax removable

Surgical procedures

Hearing aids

Cochlear implants

Some hearing problems are reversible, while others are not. But, don’t worry. Just because it’s not reversible doesn’t mean you will no longer be able to hear. Surgery is an option for those who’ve had a traumatic ear injury or infection that affected their hearing. Hearing aids are also available to those who have hearing loss due to damage to their inner ear. And finally, those with severe hearing loss can have a cochlear implant. Your hearing specialist will know best what type of treatment is best for you. For more information about these services click here. You can also visit them on Google My Business.